About the Course

This course teaches specific skills for working with adults with weight concerns by addressing the practical and psychological factors they may be experiencing.

We take an anti-diet approach to this issue and concentrate instead on equipping people with skills and solutions they might need to increase self-efficacy and autonomy. This approach encourages individuals to reject weight and shape goals and to concentrate instead on health behaviour change and body acceptance.

This course can also be taken as a ‘stand alone’ option for those health professionals who are simply looking to enhance their skills in the area of clients with weight concerns.

Suitability

The course is suitable for counsellors, psychologists, psychotherapists, addiction specialists, doctors, psychiatrists, dietitians, nutritionists, nurses and social workers at all levels of experience and qualification.

You will learn about

• Understanding the mechanics of weight gain and weight loss
• Maintaining factors, a model for treatment
• Working with ambivalence – useful exercises and tests
• Motivational approaches
• Hunger and appetite
• Understanding weight based stigma
• Relationship issues, self-sabotage and collusion
• Mindset interventions
• Emotional and comfort eating
• Dealing with psychological plateaus and lapses
• Body image interventions
• How to help clients thinking of, or going through bariatric surgery

After the course
Health professionals who complete the Psychological Approaches for Clients with Weight Concerns course will become an ACFED approved practitioner. You can choose to be included on our database and receive referrals via our website.

ACFED approved practitioners will be able to use our logo to promote their skills, and they will receive referrals, peer support via our private Facebook page, and networking events in capital cities.

This course can also be taken in addition to our Eating Disorders Essentials course and our Practical Skills for Eating Disorders Course to elevate you to Silver or Gold ACFED Approved Practitioner status.